epple



Jan. 31,. 1956 H. K. EPPLE 2,733,023

PARACHUTE CANOPY CONSTRUCTION Filed May 17, 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet lINVENTOR Heinrich K. Epp.le

ATTORNEY) Jan. 31, 1956 H. K. EPPLE 2,733,028

PARACHUTE CANOPY CONSTRUCTION Filed May 17, 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet I N VENTOR Heinrich K. Epple ATTORNEY5 United States Patent 9 PARACHUTE CANOPYCONSTRUCTION Heinrich K. Epple, Lexington, Ky., assignor to Irving AirChute Company, Inc., Lexington, Ky., a corporation of New YorkApplication May 17, 1954, Serial No. 43%,182 10 Claims. (Cl. 244-145)This invention relates to improvements in parachute canopyconstructions.

The primary purpose of this invention is the provision of a parachutecanopy construction adapted to be used in connection with high speedaircraft, embodying means to quickly stabilize the canopy under descentwith a load.

A further object of this invention is the provision of an improvedparachute canopy construction provided with an improved extended skirtconstruction and air vent means for quickly damping oscillation duringdescent, and to lessen the load shock.

It is known in the art, such as set forth in the H. G. Heinrich Patent2,462,864, to provide a canopy construction designed for the purpose ofreducing oscillation. It includes peripherally located convergent airdeflecting surfaces provided with vent means for increasing airturbulence at the outer peripheral portion of the canopy. It is apurpose of the present invention to provide a canopy having the gores orpanels provided with extended deflecting surfaces at the peripheralportion thereof which have a convergent slope in the direction of theload, and which are so constructed as toprovide for a more elficientpocketing of the panels at the lower periphery of the canopy.Furthermore, the panel is provided at the roof or top portion thereofimmediately above the convergent air deflecting surfaces with vent meansto provide for a very eflicient jet discharge of air from the canopy ata location where the canopy, when inflated, has the air in greatervolume and under greater pressure than within the medial area of thedeflecting surface.

' Other. objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent duringthe course of the following detailed description.

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, andwherein similar reference characters designate corresponding partsthroughout the several views:

Fig. l is a fragmentary, rather diagrammatic view of the improvedparachute canopy showing it divided into an upper roof or top portionand a lower skirt portion having air deflecting surfaces at the lowerend of each gore or panel.

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the inflated canopy of Fig. 1, moreparticularly showing the peripheral vents which definitely faceupwardly.

Fig. 3 is a view showing the detailed construction of one of the panelsof the parachute, and its deflecting surface; the latter, in this view,not being attached to the main or top portion of the panel.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary cross sectional view taken radially through thecentral portion of one of the panels, substantially on the line 4-4 ofFig. 2, showing the inflated structural arrangement, and also showingthe downwardly divergent pocketed air deflecting surface.

,Fig'. 5 is a fragmentary view showing a panel of the canopy flattenedand folded over the flattened complementary air deflecting surface orskirt; this view illustrating thebottom fullness of the panel portion soas to enable pocketing of the canopy at the juncture of both the toppanel portion and its air deflecting skirt or surface.

Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 5, but with the deflecting surfaceflattened over the lower portion of the top panel in order todemonstrate the degree of fullness of the lower deflecting surface orskirt of one of the panels, to provide for a pocketing arrangement atthe maximum diameter portion of the inflated canopy, and at whichlocation the air jet spill vent is provided.

Fig. 7 is a side elevation of an inflated modified form of canopy inwhich the improved deflecting skirt or surface portion is provided uponalternate panels, similar to the conventional modern United States AirForce personnel canopy. I

In the drawings, wherein for the purpose of illustration are shownpreferred and modified forms of canopies, the letters A and B generallydesignate the canopies shown respectively in Figs. 1 and '7. Thesecanopies are identical, except Fig. 7 shows only alternate or recurringpanels having the improved air deflecting surfaces or skirts; the otherpanels being of conventional construction.

The improved panel construction for canopies is shown in developed formin Fig. 3, wherein the top or roof portion 10 is in flattened positionand the air deflecting surface or skirt portion 11 is also flattened butunattached to the top portion 10.

The top or roof portion it of the panel or gore has an upper straightedge 12 adapted to be located at the top vent portion of the canopy, ifa top vent is desired. From this edge 12 extend relative divergent sideedges 13 and 14 which are disposed at uniform angles with respect to amedial axial line 20 longitudinally provided through the panel. Thepanel portion 10 may have a biased weave, in accordance withconventional practice, and it may be made of a plurality of segments 16,17 and 18, connected on biased seam lines 19 in accordance withconventional parachute canopy panel fabrication. The number of biasedsegments will depend upon the diametrical size of the parachute canopy.

The roof or top panel portion 10 has an added fullness over conventionalpanel construction, designated by the numeral 21 in Fig. 3. Thisfullness is provided in order to pocket the lower portion of the portion10, and also to provide a vent recess or opening. It is shaped byproviding relatively convergent straight edges 22 and 23 at the lowerend of the portion 10, which respectively start at the side edges 13 and14 and are located at an obtuse angle with respect thereto. The edges 22and 23 terminate short of the medial axial line 20 of the panel. Fromtheir lowermost ends the edges 22 and 23 intersect with downwardlydivergent edges 24 and 25 respectively. These edges 24 and 25 intersectat a location 26 on the medial line 29 of the panel and preferably theyare in right angled relation to provide a recess 27 which ultimatelyresults in a vent opening 27* in the lower portion of the canopy. Theedges 24 and 25 need not necessarily be in right angled relation.

The so-called air deflecting or guide surface or skirt portion 1 isprovided with a lower straight edge 39. It normally parallels the topedge 12 of the panel and is located in right angledrelation with respectto the panel axis 20. The side edges 31 and 32 of the portion 11 extenddivergently upward from the edge 30, each at the same angle with respectto the line 30, and which angle is greaterthan. as'will be noted fromFig. 3. Thetop edging of the surface or skirt 11 has a fullness areadesignated at '33 in Fig. 3. It is formed by providing convergentstraight edges 34 and 35 leading off in about right angled relation fromthe edges 31 and 32'respectively. The edges 34 and 35 extend for aboutthe same lengths as the complementary edges 22 and 23 of the top panelportion 10, and they intersect with the top straight edge 40 of theskirt portion 11. The edge 40 is parallel with the edge 30 and in lengthis about the same as the width of the bottom portion of the recess 27.It'will be noted that the edges 22 and 34 are relatively divergent fromthe longitudinal axis of the panel construction sidewise and that isalso true with respect to the edges 23-35.

Referring to the shape and attachement of the panels of the canopy, theedges 22 and 34 are, joined at a seam 50, shown best in Figs. and 6, andthe edges 23 and 3.5 are joined at a seam 51. The edge 40 taped at 52 isa continuation of the seams 50 and 51, and joins with them. The edges 24and 25 of the recess 27 are also taped, as shown in the drawings, forreinforcing Pu poses. The top panel portions 16 of the canopy aresidewise joined together with conventional seams 53, shown in Figs. 5and 6, and the edges 31 and 32 of the skirt or air deflecting surfaces11 are relatively joined together by seams 54, designated in Figs. 5 and6 of the drawings. The shroud lines 55 are preferably connected byreinforcing portions 56 to the skirt edge tape 57 which is providedalong the edge of the deflecting surfaces. These shroud lines 55 may becontinued upwardly through and attached in the seams 53 and 54, similarto conventional canopy structure. The shroud lines may be conventionallycontinued across the top vent if so desired.

In event the deflecting surfaces or skirt portions 11 are to be providedat the bottom edges of recurrent or alternate panels the intermediatepanels 10 shown in Fig. 6, may have straight lower edges, without ventrecesses or openings.

It will be noted from Figs. 5 and 6 that a pocketing fullness exists atthe lower end of the roof or top panel portion 10 and at the upperportion of the deflecting skirt or surface 11. In Fig. 5 it is shownthat the top panel portion 10 is extended and folded flat upon the upperunder folded portion of the skirt 11 in order to better designate thepocketing effect. Likewise, in Fig. 6 the skirt or deflecting surface 11is extended and folded fiat, with the lower end of the top canopyportion 10 folded under the top edge of the skirt. With thisarrangement, when the canopy is inflated, as shown in the fragmentarysectional view of Fig. 4, there are provided air filled pockets at thejuncture of the panel portions 10 and 11, and the vent opening 27 opensupwardly and laterally at a location directly at the outermostperipheral edging of the inflated canopy, where air pressure within thecanopy is greater than at the medial portion of the downwardly divergentsurfaces 11, whereby a stronger air jet is discharged for the creationof such turbulence at the outer peripheral edging of the canopy as willresult in creating stability of the parachute during descent It is to benoted that all edges of the gore or panel portions 10 and 11 arestraight.

The canopy when inflated will have a scalloped shape at the outerperipheral edging, as will be noted from the drawings.

The location of the air vents substantially lessens shock loads at thetime of inflation. The location of the vents 27 is very importantbecause they are best positioned for taking advantage of the fact thatair at the time of inflation is more compacted at the lower edge of theroof portion of the gore than at any location within the area of theskirt extension. The skirt at initial opening of the canopy is not atall filled with air exerting any considerable pressure at its medialarea.

It is intended to use the improved lower roof panel and skirtconstruction upon a canopy shaped with a flat camber of the roof portionor one having amore spherial hap Various ehangesin the shape, size andarrangement of parts may bemade to the form of invention herein shownand described, without departing from thespirit of the invention orscope of the claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A canopy construction for parachutes comprising a main inflatablecanopy portion having at the outer peripheral portion thereof adownwardly convergent air deflecting skirt, the air opening of saidskirt being less in diameter than the outer peripheral diameter of themain canopy portion when inflated, the said canopy at the loweroutermost peripheral edging thereof being provided with air vents facingupwardly.

2. A canopy construction as defined in claim l in whieh said air ventswhen the canopy is inflated also face laterally.

3. A parachute canopy comprising a plurality of panels whichindividually have side edges divergent downwardly from the centralportion of the canopy in the direction of the lower peripheral portionthereof, said panels at the peripheral portions thereof having airdeflecting portions connected to their lower ends in a transversepocketed relation, the panels along their longitudinal central axeshaving vent openings disposed in upwardly facing relation when thecanopy is inflated and located in the panels above the deflectingportions and being each relatively short radially of the panels.

4. A panel construction for parachute canopies comprising an elongatedroof panel portion having downwardly divergent side edges from the peakthereof to the lower end thereof, said roof portion at the lower endthereof being provided with inwardly extending relatively convergentedges obtusely located with respect to the adjacent respective sideedges, and which lower end edges terminate short of the longitudinalaxis of the panel, the lower end of said panel roof portion having atthe, inner ends of the said lower convergent edges other edges whichextend upwardly in relative convergent relation toward the longitudinalaxis of the said roof panel portion to define an air vent recess, and anair deflecting skirt connected to the lowermost relatively convergentedges of the roof panel, said skirt having an upper edge facing the ventrecess to define therewith an air vent opening.

5. A parachute panel construction as defined in claim 4 in which saidair deflecting skirt portion is shaped to provide side edges whichconverge to the outermost edge thereof, the top edging of the skirtadjacent to the roof panel portion comprising a short central edge insubstantial parallelism with the outermost edge of the said skirtportion and outer downwardly divergent edges connected to the saidlowermost relatively convergent edges of the roof panel.

6. A canopy construction for parachutes comprising a main inflatablecanopy portion constructed of a plurality of seam connectedsubstantially triangular shaped roof panels, said roof panels at thelowermost ends thereof being provided with skirt extensions the sideedges of which converge downwardly, shroud lines connected to said skirtextensions in the line of extension of the convergent side edges of theskirt extensions when the canopy and skirt extensions are inflatedwhereby the skirt extensions will be positioned in a downwardlyconvergent relation when supporting a load beneath the inflated canopy,said roof panel portions at the extreme lower ends thereof above theskirt extensions being provided ith a vent pen Wh Q ace war when thecanopy is inflated.

7. A canopy construction as defined in claim 6 wherein said skirtextensions are provided only at the lower edges of recurring main roofpanel portions.

8. in a parachute construction a canopy having a cambered main canopyportion terminating at its outer periphery in an air spoiler edge, andan air deflecting ski c nnect t s i d and xte din qn e 'ssa v downwardwhen th campy in t th said new directly at the juncture of the skirtwith the main canopy portion having a series of non-communicating airjet discharge vents, each extending radially of the main sang opyportion for only a short distance and which air vents each face upwardlyand also laterally when the canopy construction and skirt are inflated.

9. In a parachute construction the combination of a cambered flexiblecanopy comprising a plurality of radial panels, recurrent panels at thelower edges thereof having skirt extensions and shroud lines connectedthereto, the

shroud lines having means at the load attaching ends thereof to positionthe shroud lines in a downwardly convergent relation whereby to positionsaid air deflecting skirt portions in a downwardly convergent relation,the panel and skirt portions being provided with air vent openingsdirectly at the extreme outermost peripheral juncture edges thereof,said'air vent openings being appreciably narrow in widthcircumferentially of the canopy than the lengths of the respectivejuncture edges at which positioned and which air vent openings when thecanopy is inflated open upwardly and laterally for turbulent jetdischarge of air streams upwardly and laterally.

10. A canopy construction for parachutes comprising a main inflatablecanopy portion constructed of a plurality of scam connectedsubstantially triangular shaped roof panels, said roof panels at thelowermost ends thereof being provided with fixedly attached skirtextensions, shroud lines connected to said skirt extensions having meansat the load attaching ends thereof to position the shroud lines in adownwardly convergent relation when the canopy is inflated and hold saidair deflecting skirt extensions at an obtuse angle with respect to therespective connected panels, the canopy at the juncture of the panelsand skirt extensions being provided with non communicating air ventopenings which face and open upwardly and also laterally when the canopyis inflated.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,727,279 Elliott Sept. 3, 1929 2,462,864 Heinrich Mar. 1, 19492,562,799 Kowalski July 31, 1951 2,683,575 Heinrich July 13, 1954FOREIGN PATENTS 531,680 Great Britain Jan. 9, 1941 553,653 France Feb.14, 1923 France Nov. 30, 1926

